Identical Twins Reared Apart

Thomas J Bouchard Jr, University of Minnesota, Institute of Human Genetics, Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

Published online: July 2006

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0005156

Identical twins reared apart constitute two individuals with the same genetic constitution (genotype) reared in two different environments. The study of a series of such twins allows us to estimate the influence of genetic and environmental factors on measured characteristics (phenotypes) of the twins. Studies of twins reared apart have consistently confirmed the findings of studies of twins reared together, which have demonstrated moderate genetic influence on virtually all reliably measured psychological traits.

Keywords: monozygotic; dizygotic; twins; adoption; behavior genetics

 Further Reading
    book Bouchard Jr TJ and Pedersen N (1999) "Twins reared apart: nature's double experiment". In: LaBuda MC and Grigorenko EL (eds.) On the Way to Individuality: Methodological Issues in Behavioral Genetics, pp. 71–93. Commack, NY: Nova Science Publishers
    Galton F (1876) The history of twin, as a criterion of the relative powers of nature and nurture. Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 5: 391–406.
    book Juel-Nielsen N (1980) "Individual and Environment": Monozygotic Twins Reared Apart. New York, NY: International Universities Press. [Revised edition of 1965 monograph.]
    Langinvainio H, Kaprio J, Koskenvuo M and Lonnquist J (1984) Finnish twins reared apart. III. Personality factors. Acta Geneticae Medicae et Gemellologiae 33: 259–264.
    book Mackintosh NJ (ed.) (1995) "Cyril Burt": Fraud or Framed?. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
    Martin N, Boomsma D and Machin G (1997) A twin-pronged attack on complex traits. Nature Genetics 17: 387–392.
    book Newman HH, Freeman FN and Holzinger KJ (1937) Twins: A Study of Heredity and Environment. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
    Pedersen NL, Plomin R, Nesselroade JR and McClearn GE (1992) A quantitative genetic analysis of cognitive abilities during the second half of the life span. Psychological Science 3: 346–353.
    book Shields J (1962) Monozygotic Twins: Brought Up Apart and Brought Up Together. London, UK: Oxford University Press.
    Teasdale TW and Owen DR (1984) Heritability and familial environment in intelligence and educational level: a sibling study. Nature 309: 620–622.

Related Sub-Topics:

General Neuroscience | Genetics of Intelligence and Cognition | Techniques and Tools in Clinical Genetics
Contact Editor close
Submit a note to the editor about this article by filling in the form below.

* Required Field

Article Title: Identical Twins Reared Apart
 
How to Cite close
Bouchard Jr, Thomas J(Jul 2006) Identical Twins Reared Apart. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0005156]